Bearing seat of a tension strut made of composite materials

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to a mount support of a force connection strut manufactured from plastic/metal composite materials for a chassis of a motor vehicle, wherein the force connection strut has an elongated basic body and a sleeve (H) passing through the said basic body.  
     The present invention is characterized in that the sleeve (H) has a flange (F) on at least one side and is connected to the basic body by extrusion coating with plastic at least at one of its ends.

[0001] The present invention pertains to a mount support of a force connection strut manufactured from composite materials for a chassis of a motor vehicle, wherein the force connection strut has an elongated basic body and a sleeve passing through this basic body. Such mount supports are preferably used in connection with axle struts or chassis control arms.

[0002] A similar mount support of a chassis part is known from DE 199 31 079 A1. This German unexamined patent application discloses a chassis part with narrow spring characteristic, and this chassis part, which may be, e.g., an axle guide, has an elongated basic structure in the form of a strut, and openings are provided at the ends of the strut, and an outer sleeve, in which a pad made of an elastomer material with another, inner bush is in turn arranged, is located in the said openings. In a special embodiment, the sleeve has a crowned expansion in its middle. The fastening of the sleeve in the basic body is not described more specifically, but it seems to be achieved by pressing the sleeve together with the basic body.

[0003] One problem in such pressed-in sleeves may be that the sleeve may separate from the basic body during the operation due to the axial forces that occur.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to find another simple form of a mount support for a force connection strut of a chassis, which guarantees the secure seating of the sleeve in the basic body.

[0005] This object is accomplished by the features of the independent patent claim. Variants of the present invention are the subject of subclaims.

[0006] Accordingly, the inventors propose that the mount support, which is known per se, on a force connection strut of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle be improved, wherein the force connection strut has an elongated basic body and a sleeve passing through this basic body. The improvement is that the sleeve has a flange at least on one side and is connected to the basic body by extrusion-coating with plastic at least at one of its ends. The extrusion coating of the sleeve or the flange may be carried out according to the present invention completely or only in the radial area of the flange. Highly secure connection is created between the basic body and the sleeve by this manner of design of the sleeve and the extrusion coating with plastic, so that separation of the sleeve from the basic body can be prevented from occurring even under the action of stronger forces.

[0007] Provisions are made in an advantageous variant of the present invention for the basic body to have a metal insert at least in the area of the mount support, which said metal insert is likewise passed through by the sleeve. As a result, an additional stability of the connection between the mount support and the basic body is achieved.

[0008] In addition, the inventors propose that the sleeve be in direct non-positive contact with the metal insert of the basic body in at least one plane. As a result, the sleeve can be additionally supported directly at the metal insert of the basic body, so that an improvement is achieved in the stability of the connection between the basic body and the sleeve.

[0009] Corresponding to the idea of the invention, the sleeve may consist of, e.g., metal, preferably steel or aluminum or a metal alloy. However, it is also possible to manufacture the sleeve from plastic in the case of a mount support that is subject to a somewhat lower load.

[0010] If the mount support is loaded axially in both directions rather than in one direction, it may be advantageous for the sleeve to have a flange each at both ends, so that supporting is possible in both axial directions of the sleeve via the flange in relation to the basic body or the metal insert. This can be achieved, e.g., by inserting a sleeve with only a single flange into the opening of a metal insert and by subsequently preparing the second flange, e.g., by ultrasound welding in the case of a plastic sleeve or by a corresponding cold forming of a metallic sleeve. The plastic structure can be subsequently coated by extrusion around the metal insert including the sleeve disposed therein.

[0011] If the basic body at which the mount support is located has a correspondingly shaped metal insert or two metal inserts arranged correspondingly in the area of the mount support, it is possible to prepare two openings located opposite each other in the metal insert, so that the sleeve passes through both openings of one metal insert or of both metal inserts.

[0012] A further improvement of the mount support can be achieved by the plastic used, with which the sleeve is extrusion coated, being provided at least partially with fiber reinforcements, for which purpose it is possible to use, e.g., glass fibers, carbon fibers or aramide fibers. If the percentage of fibers in the fiber reinforcement is selected now such that the thermal expansion characteristic of the plastic structures corresponds at least extensively to the thermal expansion characteristic of the sleeve at least in the range of the operating temperatures, it is also possible to avoid damages that could be caused by frequent temperature changes and differences in the thermal expansion characteristics of the materials.

[0013] A further improvement of the integration of the sleeve of the mount support in the basic body can be achieved by also extrusion coating at least one flange of the sleeve on the axial top side and/or underside with plastic. As a result, an additional corrosion protection is additionally achieved for the sleeve, especially if it consists of a metal.

[0014] It is also advantageous concerning the service life of the mount support for the sleeve, especially if it consists of a metal, to have a corrosion-inhibiting surface protection.

[0015] To improve the stability and to facilitate the positive-locking connection with the surrounding plastic, it may, moreover, be advantageous to provide the sleeve with beads. Furthermore, the positive-locking connection may also be improved by the sleeve having openings, e.g., in the area of the flange.

[0016] Furthermore, the inventors propose that the opening in the metal insert, into which the sleeve is inserted, have a rotationally asymmetric shape and that the sleeve have an outer shape fitting same, so that rotation of the sleeve in relation to the metal insert is prevented from occurring.

[0017] In addition, the inventors propose, especially with respect to the possibility of inserting a molecular bearing in the sleeve, that the sleeve have a radial contraction on its inner side.

[0018] Besides, it is proposed in a special embodiment of the mount support that the metal insert within the basic body be shaped such that it loops around the sleeve in the form of a loop.

[0019] Furthermore, the plastic structure, in which the sleeve is embedded, may also surround the metal insert of the force connection strut without a transition and thus define the outer shape of the force connection strut.

[0020] Furthermore, the metal insert may be advantageously shaped such that it is designed to receive a molecular bearing or a ball bearing or a fixed bearing.

[0021] It should also be noted that the sleeve according to the present invention may be not only an element of a cylindrical shape, but, e.g., also a cup, which has the form of a ball-and-socket joint housing.

[0022] The present invention will be described in greater detail below on the basis of the preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. In the drawings,

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a mount support with a sleeve embedded in plastic with a flange;

[0024]FIG. 2 shows a mount support with a sleeve embedded in plastic with flanges on both sides;

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a mount support with a sleeve with two flanges, embedded in plastic with the exception of the flanges;

[0026]FIG. 4 shows a U-section embedded in an H-section made of plastic with mount supports;

[0027]FIG. 5 shows a plastic H-section with two metal inserts and mount supports;

[0028]FIG. 6 shows a plastic U-section with a metal insert; and

[0029]FIG. 7 shows a plastic H-section with an L-shaped metal insert with a mount support in the central leg.

[0030]FIG. 1 shows a cross section through one end of the basic body of a force connection strut, which basic body is provided with a metal insert M. In the metal insert M there is an opening, through which a sleeve H was passed. On one side, the sleeve H has a flange F, which prevents the sleeve H from slipping through the metal insert. A plastic structure K, which defines the outer contour of the force connection strut and also forms at the same time a fastening for the sleeve in the area of the mount support, which is formed by the sleeve H, is extrusion-coated around the metal insert M and the sleeve H.

[0031]FIG. 2 shows a variant similar to that in FIG. 1, but the sleeve H of the mount support has two flanges F in this case, which are extrusion-coated with plastic K.

[0032] Another variant of the mount support is shown in FIG. 3. One end of a force connection strut, which has a metal insert M, in which an opening is provided for the sleeve H, is likewise shown here. However, the distance between the two flanges F of the sleeve H is greater in this case than the thickness of the metal insert M, so that the flanges F are radially free from plastic K and only the cylindrical part of the sleeve H, which does not belong to the flanges, is surrounded by plastic K. The sleeve H of the mount support is thus seated on the plastic structure K of the force connection strut with the undersides of the two flanges F.

[0033] Another variant of a mount support according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. This shows the cross section through an H-shaped plastic section with a U-shaped metal insert M. Openings are provided on the upper and lower left legs of the H [section], and two sleeves H, whose embodiment corresponds to that in FIG. 3 and which are located axially opposite each other, are introduced through the said openings. The upper and lower sleeves together form a single mount support in their cooperation.

[0034] Another variant of the sleeves H located opposite each other, which form a mount support, is shown in FIG. 5. An H-shaped plastic structure K is likewise present here, but two metal inserts M, which are separated from each other, are arranged in it. A somewhat broader metal insert M extending over the entire upper leg can be seen at the top, while only one, smaller metal insert M, which extends over the left area, is shown in the lower leg. The embodiment of the upper sleeve H corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1 or 2, while the lower sleeve H, which is arranged axially in relation to the upper sleeve H, corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 3 or 4.

[0035]FIG. 6 shows a plastic U-section with an integrated metal insert M, wherein the two legs of the U-section are passed through a sleeve H each, and these sleeves form a single mount support in their cooperation.

[0036] Finally, FIG. 7 shows once again a plastic H-section with integrated L-shaped metal insert M. The mount support is disposed here in the vertical, central leg of the H-section, and the sleeve H inserted is completely surrounded by plastic K with the exception of the cylindrical inner part and passes through the metal insert M in this case as well.

[0037] On the whole, very good and firm seating of the sleeve H at or in the basic body of a force connection strut is consequently achieved with the mount support according to the present invention, and, in addition, the simple design makes possible a very rapid and inexpensive manufacture. 

1. Mount support of a force connection strut manufactured from composite materials in a chassis of a motor vehicle, wherein the force connection strut has a said elongated basic body and a said sleeve (H) passing through the said basic body, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) has a said flange (F) at least on one side, and is connected to the said basic body by extrusion coating with a said plastic (K) at least at one of its ends.
 2. Mount support in accordance with patent claim 1 above, characterized in that the said basic body has a said metal insert (M), through which the said sleeve (H) passes, at least in the area of the mount support.
 3. Mount support in accordance with one of the above patent claims, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) is in direct non-positive contact with the said metal insert (M) of the said basic body in at least one plane.
 4. Mount support in accordance with one of the above patent claims, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) consists of plastic, metal, preferably steel or aluminum, or a metal alloy.
 5. Mount support in accordance with one of the above patent claims, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) has a said flange (F) each at both ends.
 6. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) passes through two said openings of one or two said metal inserts (M), which said openings are disposed opposite each other.
 7. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said plastic (K) used has at least partially fiber reinforcement preferably from glass fibers, carbon fibers or aramide fibers.
 8. Mount support in accordance with patent claim 7 above, characterized in that the percentage of fibers in the fiber reinforcements is selected to be such that the thermal expansion characteristic of the said plastic structures (K) in the range of the operating temperatures corresponds at least extensively to the thermal expansion characteristic of the said sleeve (H).
 9. Mount support in accordance with one of the above patent claims, characterized in that its outer shape is defined exclusively by the said plastic structure (K).
 10. Mount support in accordance with one of the above patent claims, characterized in that at least one said flange (F) of the said sleeve (H) is also extrusion-coated with plastic on the axial top side and/or underside.
 11. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said metallic sleeve (H) has a corrosion-inhibiting surface coating.
 12. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) has beads to achieve positive-locking connection with the surrounding plastic and to improve the stability.
 13. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) has openings to achieve positive-locking connection with the said surrounding plastic (K).
 14. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims 2 through 13 above, characterized in that the opening of the said metal insert (M) has a rotationally asymmetric shape and the said sleeve (H) has an outer shape matching it, so that rotation of the said sleeve (H) in relation to the said metal insert (M) is prevented from occurring.
 15. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that the said sleeve (H) has a radial contraction on the inside.
 16. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims 2 through 15 above, characterized in that the said metal insert (M) loops around the said sleeve (H) in the form of a loop.
 17. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims 2 through 16 above, characterized in that the said plastic structure (K), which embeds the said sleeve (H), also surrounds the said metal insert (M) of the force connection strut without a transition.
 18. Mount support in accordance with one of the patent claims above, characterized in that it is designed to receive a molecular bearing or a ball bearing or a fixed bearing. 